Inclusive Action for the City

Communities across #LosAngeles need access to capital to run their businesses, deserve to own and steward land in their neighborhoods, and should be able to exercise power in the political systems that shape their lives. As we enter our 15th year, we’re sharing our three-year strategic plan to invite you into where we are headed and to join us in the journey! We’re focused on three problems affecting underinvested communities, and three interventions we will make to address them: Problem 1: Entrepreneurs and their families are still struggling to access capital and income inequality is increasing.  Intervention 1: Expand our small business lending, stabilize it with supportive infrastructure, and optimize our technical assistance. Problem 2: Capital assets, including land and real estate, are being concentrated in fewer and fewer hands. Intervention 2: Prototype integrated capital approaches - financial, physical, social - that grow wealth and build power for low-income communities. Problem 3: Community members feel powerless in the political systems that shape their lives Intervention 3: Deepen our commitment to policy advocacy to remove red tape, make budgets equitable, and create justice-centered investments.” Will you join us? 

Last week, we were honored to receive two awards for our small business lending work during Opportunity Finance Network’s 40th annual conference. 🙌🏼🎉 The first was the “Emerging Growth CDFI Award” that honors CDFIs that have demonstrated exceptional growth and service to their community over the last three years. Swipe left to hear our acceptance speech. The second was the “Lender of the Year” award from our partners at Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). Together, we’ve deployed over $2.5 million in micro-loans to entrepreneurs of color over the last two years. We are so grateful for these recognitions and are even more committed to helping our #community access the capital they deserve.

  ✍ The Federal Reserve’s 2024 Small Business Credit Survey is now open! ✍ Owners and key financial decision-makers of for-profit businesses, share your recent experiences about whether and how you use debt, what financial conditions you face, and more. Answers to these questions contribute to data that directly inform the Fed, federal government agencies, service providers, policymakers, and others—a public good ultimately benefiting your business and others like yours. Take the 12-minute survey now: https://lnkd.in/gRNnqzTm The survey is open to businesses currently in operation, those recently closed, and those about to launch. All responses are confidential. The survey closes November 1, 2024. Questions? Contact Hal Martin at hal.martin@clev.frb.org.

🏘️ Affordable housing is a key priority for Los Angeles, and the LA County Land Bank Pilot is stepping in to make it a reality! This initiative aims to help prevent #displacement while supporting community-driven #development. We Inclusive Action, Genesis LA, Kounkuey Design Initiative, Ava Bromberg are honored to serve as a steward of this effort, which builds on years of advocacy by community leaders who recognize the power of public investment in shaping neighborhoods. Through the Land Bank, we’re working with partners to help the County find great sites for new affordable housing for Los Angeles County residents. To start, we need your help! We are looking to community members to identify underutilized lots for development. Head to the [link] to submit your suggestion. 💻 Join us for a virtual information session on November 7th - 9-10 AM to learn more about the pilot. https://bit.ly/4eUDseh

It’s a big week in Los Angeles(!) — we are co-hosts of the Opportunity Finance Network conference marking 40 years of CDFI innovation. We’re excited to see old friends and make new ones, and we will be sharing throughout. First off, take a look — it’s the second article in our Doing Capital Differently series: "Refinancing is just the first step: A holistic approach to helping clients escape the debt cycle." https://bit.ly/3YhXBnq We’re redefining risk and supporting our communities to navigate the debt trap and get away from predatory debt. Are you a CDFI at #OFN40? Tell us how you’re doing this? We want to keep learning and doing it with you. #ofn40 #capital #accesstocapital #cdfi #nonprofit #debtrelief #nodebt #finance #refinance #DoingCapitalDifferently #losangeles #california

It’s a big week in Los Angeles(!) — we are co-hosts of the Opportunity Finance Network conference marking 40 years of CDFI innovation. We’re excited to see old friends and make new ones, and we will be sharing throughout. First off, take a look — it’s the second article in our Doing Capital Differently series: "Refinancing is just the first step: A holistic approach to helping clients escape the debt cycle." https://bit.ly/3YhXBnq We’re redefining risk and supporting our communities to navigate the debt trap and get away from predatory debt. Are you a CDFI at #OFN40? Tell us how you’re doing this? We want to keep learning and doing it with you. #ofn40 #capital #accesstocapital #cdfi #nonprofit #debtrelief #nodebt #finance #refinance #DoingCapitalDifferently #losangeles #california

Come join us on Zoom for a 2-day FREE workshop on upping your small business! These workshops will be focused on Target Market & Understanding Customers + Elevate your business: Value Proposition & Branding 💡 These workshops are for small businesses that: ✅️ Want to increase brand identity ✅️ Effectively communicate online ✅️ Want to learn the basics of marketing ✅️ Need to pick a niche market to attract ✅️ Decide to move forward and grow their business to the next level 🖊 Ready to gain clarity and take your business to the next level? Click here to register now: https://lnkd.in/gnC4kNdP #freeworkshop #nonprofit #inclusiveaction #resources #businessresources #targetaudience #branding #brandassets #marketing #socialmedia #losangeles #smallbusiness #localshops #shoplocal #california #businesses #womenowned

#MondayMotivation: Last week, CEO Sara Razavi and Business Consulting Officer Karla Posada De Anda attended California Forward's 2024 California Economic Summit in Sacramento, which convened stakeholders from industry, community, and the private, public, and nonprofit sectors to work toward a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive California economy. We enjoyed connecting with partners from across the state: Access Plus Capital, AmPac Business Capital, California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA), CAMEO Network, Office of California Governor Gavin Newsom, Inclusive Action for the City, The James Irvine Foundation, National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders, Sonoma County Economic Development Collaborative Learn more at https://lnkd.in/g8GK5xi5 Top photo courtesy of Tia Gemmell / CA FWD

We want #smallbusinesses to thrive, but how do we do it? Check out this article from Next City, Oscar Abello highlighting the groundbreaking Commercial Tenant Protections Act (SB1103)📝. Our very own Doug Smith stresses the importance of this legislation, tying it to broader aims of #community power and #ownership: 💬 "These new commercial tenant rights are crucial to stabilizing and preserving LA’s vibrant commercial corridors. This will help us move closer to a future of community ownership and sustainability.” 💬 ✨ In 2025, this transformative law will ignite the spark we need to combat displacement and give small business tenants & nonprofits a real chance to stay rooted in their communities! 🏘️ Thank you, Next City org, for amplifying the importance of SB1103! 🙌 https://lnkd.in/g7uPQ5WY

🗣️ ICYMI: Last week Governor Gavin Newsom signed our bill – #SB1103 the Commercial Tenant Protection Act – into law! As a result, community-serving small businesses and nonprofits now have: ✅ Language Justice through translated leases ✅ More Time to plan and stay in the neighborhood with longer notice periods for rent increases and lease termination. ✅ No More Hidden Fees, with added transparency and standards for charges relating to building operating costs We couldn’t be more proud of this accomplishment – and our dedicated partners who fought alongside us this past year to get this done. Thank you to our incredible author and champion, Senator Caroline Menjivar for your leadership! We are proud to stand with Public Counsel, Small Business Majority, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Bet Tzedek Legal Services, CAMEO Network, and all the small business owners and nonprofit leaders who helped create and advance this bill. These protections are vital to ensuring that small businesses and nonprofits can continue to power our economy and serve as the backbone of our communities all across the state. Huge thanks to all the advocates who supported #SB1103!